Vending machine



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,691,998

G. B. SMITH VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g 6 M Qnwntoz 6'00dm'2z Z3. Sinai/z,

G. B. SMITH VENDING MACHINE I Nov. 20, 1928. 9 1,691,998

Filed May 6, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet 2 glwuentoz 60042002 5 Smith G. B. SMITH VENDING MACHINE Nov. 20, 1928. 1 ,691 .998

Filed May 6, 1924 3? Smut 5&9. 9 50mm 5 S/mt/z,

Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNl'lED STATES GOODVJ IN B. SMITH, 6F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING Application filed May 6,

liy invention relates to venoingmachines. An important obyect of the nvention is to provide means for holding and displaying a plurality of articles of merchandise, of

different character, and to permit of the proper selection of the desired article, prior to the vending of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine of the above men tioned character, the operation of which is controlled by a single coin, which is compact in the arrangement of its parts and economi cal in the use of space, which is so constructed that access may be had to all of the pockets at one time, for refilling,which has a relatively large article holding capacity whereby the machine has a large selection of articles, which is novel and interesting in' appearance thereby effecting curiosity sales, which permits of the removal of the articles by the purchaser whereby its discharge does not depend upon gravity or mechanical means, which is so constructed that the merchandise offered for-sale need only be placed in the pockets of the drum to insure delivery to a proper point to be removed, and requires no special packing or wrapping, which is easy and convenient to operate, has a low cost of production owing to its shape and mode of assembly, which has an exceptionally wide field or" usefulness, and which is adapted for use in the selling of articles of different sizes by simply varying the shape or size of the pockets in" the drums, to receive the articles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 7 1

Figure 1 is a side el vation of a vending machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse section taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail section through two of the adjacent pockets of the drum, showing their mode of assembly,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectiontaken on line 4-4: of Figure 3,

Figure 1- is a detail section taken on line L -4 of Figure 5,

MACHINE.

1924. Serial No. 711,493.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 3, v

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the closure element or door, andassociated elements,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Figure 7, and,

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the front or body portion of the casing, which may be formed of sheet metal, or any other suitable material. This body portion is suitably detachably mounted upon a back 11. The body portion 10 of the casing is preferably rectangular, as the machine may be conveniently placed upon a support, such as a shelf, while not necessarily restricted to this use. The body portion 10 is providedinits front face with an annular group of openings 13, through which the goods may be observed, and these openings are covered by a section or sections of transparent material, such as glass, celluloid or the like.

Arranged within the casing is a rotatable drum, embodying center disks lt, which are rigidly mounted upon a hub 15, rotatable upon a stud 16, which is rigidly attached to the back 11. The center disks 14 have an innor ring 17, soldered or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. T he numeral 18 designates a rear ring, which is soldered upon the inner ring 17, and constitutes a radial continuation of the rear disk 14, and also forms a back closure for the compartments or pockets to be described. Each pocket includes a section of sheet metal or the like, bent into a radial partition or wall 19, and a circumferential wall 20, such circumferential wall having an inwardly offset portion at 21, providing a shoulder, for receiving the free end of the circumferential wall 20 of the succeeding pocket element. The free ends of the circumferential walls 20 are soldered within the shoulders 21, t

and thereby overlapping, and forming in efdirections. These elements therefore ilorm vertical receiving and holding pockets 23, which correspond in number and arrangement to the openings 13, and 13 these two groups being concentric.

Means are provided whereby a selected compartment or pocket may be brought into proximity to or registration with a delivery opening 13 in the casing, to permit of the removal of the desired article, under proper conditions, and this meansis illustrated as comprising a gear 24, rigidly attached to the disk l i, at its center, and permanently engaging a larger gear 25, which is rotatably mounted upon the stationary back 11., as shown at 26. The gear 25 is turned by an outer gear 27, rigidly mounted upon a shaft 28, which shaft is attach-ed to the back 11 and is rotatable thereon. The shaft 28 is turned by a crank 29, ar 'anged forwardly of the casing 10, and this crank is adapted to pass through an opening 30 in the body portion 10, when the body portion is removed. It is preferred that the gear ratio is such that upon the half turn of the crank 29, the pockets will be advanced one step, that is the proper distance to bring the next pocket in alinement with the opening 13.

Upon the inner side of the delivery opening 13 is a preferably reciprocatory door or closure element 31, formed of metal or any other suitable material. This door may have peep holes or windows 32, which may be covered or uncovered with any suitable transparent material, in order that the article directly behind the door may be observed. This door is slidable within vertical guides or tracks 33, which aremounted upon the inner side of the front of the body portion 10. The door 31 carries a rib 34;, extending longitudinally thereof, and this rib is adapted for coaction with notches 35, formed in the ring 17, which constitutes the bottom of the pockets, as will be more fully explained.

Pivotally connected with the reciprocating door 31, as shown at 36, is a pitman 37, which is pivotally connected with a crank 38. This crank is moved upwardly by a retractile coil spring 39. The crank 38 is moved downwardly by coin controlled mechanism 10, including an exterior hand crank 41. That is, upon the insertion of a proper coin into the coin controlled mechanism, the crank l-l is turned clock-wise for approximately onequarter oi a revolution, and its movement is then limited. The crank 38 is drawn clownwardly for a corresponding distance, and the door 31 will be shifted to the lowered or opened position. As soon as the door is released. in a manner to be described, the spring 39 will return the door and associated elements to the closed position, the lever 11 of the coin cont-rolled mechanism being returnec to the upper position and locked against turn' lng movement, whereby the door cannot be again opened before the insertion of the coin.

The door 31 is providedwith a depending L-shaped latch 12, adapted to ride downwardly upon the upper beveled end of a coact-ing spring catch 13, which moves out of its path of travel, and then springs in over it, with its straight taco as engaging on top of the hori- Zontal arm of the latch. This spring catch will now'loek the door in the lowered position, until the spring catch is shifted inwardly to disengage with the latch, which is effected by means of a rod 45, having a button 46 secured to its outer end.

The operation of this form of the machine is as follows: I

The co'nipart nents or pockets 23 are filled with articles to be vended, of different characters, and the purchaser can observe these difierent articles through the several openings 13 and 13. By turning the crank 29, the pocket containing the desired article, may be brought in registration with the open ing 13', whereby this selected article may be removed when the door 31 is opened. The machine being thus adji'isted, the coin is inserted in the coin controlled mechanism, and the crank 41 turned down for oneequarter of a revolution. When this occurs, the crank 38 moves down and the door 31 descends, whereby access may behad to the interior of the adjacent pocket 23. WVhen this door descends, the latch e2 engages the spring catch 43, and hence the door is locked in open position. The drum cannot now be rotated, to bring other pockets into registration with the opening 13, since the upper portion of the rib 34tremains within thehotch V Vhien the 'door is in the uppermost or completely closed position, the lower end of this rib is removed from the notch 35, and hence the drum may be rotated to select thearticles, but only when the door is completely closed. The side walls of the'pockets are suiiiciently foreshortened so that they will clear'the rib 34,in

the rotation of the drum. It willtherelore be seen, that before the operator can select the article, the button 46 must be pressed, to 'release the door, so that it maybe moved to the completely closed position, subsequent to whichthe article maybe selected, and then the door opened to permit of the removalof the article.

In Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, I have shown a-slight modification of the machine, which is designed as a machine'to be positioned upon the wall. In this machine, the front casing member 47 is preferably cylindrical, and is aback. This'back is'attached to abar ia, having transverse ends 50. I l

The operating parts of tlie'ma'chineare identical'with those of the'first form of the 7 invention, except as specified. The drum 7 embodying-the pockets'23 is the same, Instead of employing the gear-24,1 employ a ratchet wheel 24-", rigidly attachedtoahe back 14 of the drum, and this ratchet wheel is rotatable on the stud 16. The ratchet wheel is engaged by a pawl 51, carried by a lever 52, which is pivoted upon this stud. The stud is attached to the bar 48. The extent of movement'o'f the lever 52 is preferably such that when it is moved downwardly for its entire extent of travel, thedr m is turned a distance of one pocket. The lever is returned by means of a spring The same coin controlled means is employed to operate the door, and the operation ofall other parts of the machine are identical with those first described.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, *itho-ut departing frointhe spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A vending machine of the character described comprising, a casing having a delivery opening, rotatable drum within the casing having a set of pockets and provided with notches, means to turn the drum, :1 slidable closure element moving generally radially of the drum and having a longitudinally extending rib to engage within the notches of the pocket as the pockets are brought to the delivery opening, said rib remaining within the selected notch until the closure element is shifted to a substantially completely closed position, and means to move the slidable closure element to the opened and closed positions.

2. In a vending machine, a casing having a delivery opening, adrum mounted to turn within the casing and having radial pockets to be moved into proximity to the delivery opening, a radially movable door slidably mounted upon the casing to cover and uncover the delivery opening, a rib extending longitudinally of the door and rigidly mounted thereon and adapted to engage with a part of the drum to lock the same against turning movement and to disengage the same when the door is moved to substantially the completely closed position.

3. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of: a casing having a delivery opening, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having radial compartments adapted to be selectively registered with said delivery opening, a door vertically reciprocable in said casing for opening and closing said delivery opening, means i for selectively aligning said compartments with said delivery opening when said door is closed, means for moving said door to open position, locking means mounted on and rigid with said door and engaging said drum to look the latter against rotation when said door is open, and means for moving said door to closed position to unlock said di 1.

4. In a coincontrolled vending machine the combination of: a casing having a delivery opening, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having radial compartments adapted'to be selectively .regis tered with said delivery opening, a door vertically reciprocable in said casing for opening and closing said delivery opening, means for selectively aligning said compartments with said delivery opening, means for moving said door to open position, and a locking projection mounted on and rigid with said door and movable into engagement with said drum when the door is open to lock the drum against rotation when said door is open.

5. In a'coin controlled vending machine the combination of a casing having a delivery opening, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having radial compartments adapted to be selectively registered with said delivery opening, a door vertically slidable in said casing for opening and closing said delivery openii'ig, intermeshing gears controlled by a crank for selectively aligning said compartments with said delivery opening when said door is closed, means for moving said door to open position, a rib mounted on said door and adapted to engage spaced recesses in said drum to lock the latter against rotation when said door is open.

6. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of a casing having a delivery opening, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having radial compartments adapted to be selectively registered with said delivery opening, a door slidably mounted in said casing for opening and closing said delivery opening, intermeshing gears controlled by a crank for selectively aligning said compartments with said delivery openng when said door is closed, means for movmg said door to open position, a rib mounted on said door and adapted to engage spaced recesses in said drum to lock the latter against rotation when said door is open, and a spring controlled plunger for permitting said door to be moved to closed position to unlock said drum.

7 In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of a casing having a plurality of radially disposed display windows and a delivery opening disposed at the top of said caslng, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having a plurality of radially disposed compartments registering with the display windows of the casing, a door vertically reciprocable in said casing and normally closing said delivery opening, means for rotating said drum to align a selected compartment with said delivery opening, means for opening and closing said door, and

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means carried by and rigid with said door and engaging said drum to lock the latter against movement when said door is open.

8. In a coin controlled ve nding machine the combination of a casing having a plurality of radially disposed display Windows and a delivery opening disposed at the top of said casing, a drum rotatably mounted Within said casing and having a plurality of radially disposed compartments registering With the display Windows of the casing, a door vertically reciprocahle in said casing and normally closing said delivery opening, means for rotating said drum to align a selected compartment With said delivery opening, means for opening and closing said door, locking means car- "d by and rigid With said door and engagi; said drum to lock the latter against move ment when said door is open, and means for closing said door to permit free rotation of said drum.

9. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination of a casing having a plurality of radially disposed display Windows, and a delivery opening disposed at the top of said casing, a drum rotatably mounted Within said casing and having a plurality of radially disposed compartments registering With the display 'WlDClOWS of the casing, a door slidaloly meunted in said casing and normally closing said delivery opening, gears for rotating said drum to align a selected compartment ith said delivery opening means for opening and closing said door, a locking rib-carriedby said door and adapted to engage spaced notches in a peripheral Wall of said drum to lock the lat ter against movement When said door is open, and means for closing said door to permit free rotation of said drum.

10. A vending machine comprising a casing having a plurality of radially disposed display Windows and a door aperture, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing and having a plurality of article receiving compartments adapted to register with said display WindoWs and selectively With said door aperture, a door mounted for vertical reciprocation in said casing for opening and closing said aperture, said door being adapted in its open posi-' tion to engage said drum to lock the same against rotation and in its closed position to disengage said drum to permit free rotation of the latter Within said casing, and means for opening and closing said door.

in testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

GOODWIN B. SMITH. 

